Wool textile, Xinjiang Regional Museum

Last fall, I was in China for the 9th International Shibori Symposium (9ISS). Following the conference, I joined 20 other adventurers for a remarkable tour of the Silk Road in Xinjiang Province.

We began our tour at the Xinjiang Regional Museum in Urumqi.  My first introduction to this part of the world was through Elizabeth Wayland Barber’s book, Mummies of Urumqi. We viewed these mummies and dozens of remarkable textiles dating back 2,000-3,000 years. I couldn’t help but think about the fibers, the colors, and of course the dyes: brilliant, deep reds that have truly survived the test of time. Madder is the dye. It has been documented. I have never seen such richness.

Wool textile, Xinjiang Regional Museum

Early one morning we visited an animal market in Kashgar.  This is where locals came to buy and sell camels, goats, donkeys, and of…